Battery composition

Abstract

An electrolyte is disclosed, for example for use in a capacitor or in a battery. An electrolyte comprises a polysaccharide matrix; and carbon nanotubes embedded within the polysaccharide matrix. Further, apparatus comprising the electrolyte is disclosed. A method of manufacturing an electrolyte is disclosed. According to the method a polysaccharide solution is provided; carbon nanotubes are suspended within the polysaccharide solution; and the polysaccharide solution is dehydrated to obtain a gel.

1 . An electrolyte comprising:
 a polysaccharide matrix; and   carbon nanotubes embedded within the polysaccharide matrix.   
     
     
         2 . The electrolyte of  claim 1 , further comprising sulfur embedded within the polysaccharide matrix. 
     
     
         3 . The electrolyte of  claim 2 , wherein the sulfur is in the form of sulfur nanoparticles. 
     
     
         4 . The electrolyte of  claim 2  or  3 , wherein the sulfur is bound to the carbon nanotubes. 
     
     
         5 . The electrolyte of any preceding claim, wherein the carbon nanotubes are chiral carbon nanotubes. 
     
     
         6 . The electrolyte of any preceding claim, wherein the polysaccharide is derived from a natural polysaccharide, preferably at least one of: chitin, agarose, starch, and/or glycogen. 
     
     
         7 . The electrolyte of any preceding claim, wherein the polysaccharide is agarose. 
     
     
         8 . The electrolyte of any preceding claim, wherein the polysaccharide has a melting temperature between 70 and 110° C. 
     
     
         9 . The electrolyte of any preceding claim, wherein the polysaccharide is chitosan, preferably obtained from the shells of crustaceans. 
     
     
         10 . The electrolyte of  claim 9 , wherein the chitosan has a degree of deacetylation of 60-95%, preferably 70-90%, and more preferably approximately 80%. 
     
     
         11 . The electrolyte of  claim 9  or  10 , wherein the chitosan has an average molecular weight of 50 to 1500 kDa, preferably 50 to 900 kDa, preferably 50 to 300 kDa, and more preferably approximately 200 kDa. 
     
     
         12 . The electrolyte of any preceding claim, further comprising a nonionic surfactant. 
     
     
         13 . The electrolyte of any preceding claim, further comprising one or more of: sodium cations; chloride; phosphate; and potassium cations. 
     
     
         14 . The electrolyte of any preceding claim, further comprising polyethylene glycol. 
     
     
         15 . The electrolyte of any preceding claim, wherein the carbon nanotubes are functionalized with sulfur, preferably using a torch of cold plasma. 
     
     
         16 . The electrolyte of any preceding claim, wherein the carbon nanotubes are oriented within the matrix, preferably using an electrophoresis process. 
     
     
         17 . The electrolyte of any preceding claim, wherein the carbon nanotubes and/or the sulfur is arranged at an interface of the polysaccharide matrix and/or dispersed throughout the polysaccharide matrix, optionally using an ultrasound treatment. 
     
     
         18 . The electrolyte of any preceding claim, wherein the electrolyte is formed by exposure of the electrolyte to irradiation, preferably ultraviolet irradiation, more preferably irradiation at 200 nm to 300 nm. 
     
     
         19 . Apparatus comprising the electrolyte of any preceding claim, further comprising:
 a first electrode; and   optionally a second electrode;   wherein the electrolyte is disposed adjacent the first electrode and optionally between the first electrode and the second electrode.   
     
     
         20 . Apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the first electrode comprises magnesium and optionally the second electrode comprises copper. 
     
     
         21 . Apparatus of  claim 19  or  20 , wherein one of the first electrode and/or the second electrode comprises sulfur, preferably sulfur nanoparticles. 
     
     
         22 . A battery or capacitor comprising the electrolyte of any of  claims 1  to  18  or the apparatus of any of  claims 19  to  21 . 
     
     
         23 . A battery or capacitor according to  claim 22 , wherein the battery or capacitor is at least one of: a solid-state battery or capacitor, a biodegradable battery or capacitor, and a flexible battery or capacitor. 
     
     
         24 . A method of manufacturing an electrolyte, the method comprising:
 providing a polysaccharide solution;   suspending carbon nanotubes within the polysaccharide solution; and   dehydrating the polysaccharide solution to obtain a gel.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the polysaccharide solution is a chitin or chitosan or agarose solution. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24  or  25 , wherein the polysaccharide solution comprises at least: polysaccharide, water, and optionally one or more of: sodium cations; chloride; phosphate; potassium cations; and polyethylene glycol. 
     
     
         27 . The method of any of  claims 24  to  26 , further comprising arranging the carbon nanotubes at an interface of the polysaccharide matrix and/or dispersed throughout the polysaccharide matrix, optionally using an ultrasound treatment. 
     
     
         28 . The method of any of  claims 24  to  27 , further comprising orienting the carbon nanotubes within the polysaccharide solution, preferably wherein orienting the carbon nanotubes comprises using an electrophoresis process. 
     
     
         29 . The method of any of  claims 24  to  28 , wherein dehydrating the polysaccharide solution comprises mechanically dehydrating the polysaccharide solution. 
     
     
         30 . The method of any of  claims 24  to  29 , further comprising suspending sulfur within the polysaccharide solution. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the sulfur is sulfur nanoparticles. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30  or  31 , further comprising binding the sulfur to the carbon nanotubes, preferably using a torch of cold plasma. 
     
     
         33 . The method of any of  claims 24  to  32 , wherein providing a polysaccharide solution comprises treating chitin to obtain chitosan, preferably wherein the chitin is obtained from the shells of crustaceans. 
     
     
         34 . The method of any of  claims 24  to  33 , wherein the carbon nanotubes are chiral carbon nanotubes. 
     
     
         35 . The method of any of  claims 24  to  34 , further comprising exposure of the electrolyte to irradiation, preferably ultraviolet irradiation, more preferably irradiation at 200 nm to 300 nm. 
     
     
         36 . A method of manufacturing apparatus comprising manufacturing the electrolyte of any of  claims 24  to  35 , further comprising:
 providing a first electrode; 
 optionally providing a second electrode; and 
 disposing the electrolyte adjacent the first electrode and optionally between the first electrode and the second electrode. 
 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the first electrode comprises magnesium and optionally the second electrode comprises copper. 
     
     
         38 . A method of manufacturing a battery or capacitor comprising manufacturing the electrolyte of any of  claims 24  to  35  or manufacturing apparatus of any of  claim 36  or  37 . 
     
     
         39 . A method according to  claim 38 , wherein the battery or capacitor is at least one of: a solid-state battery or capacitor, a biodegradable battery or capacitor, and a flexible battery or capacitor.